The Purpose and Value of Labor Support
In supporting the mother, we are supporting the child, and in supporting the child, we are supporting our future. During pregnancy and birth, the mother requires care. Not just physically, but emotionally as well. Offering her encouragement for her hopes and dreams, and a safe environment to examine her fears can have lasting effects on the type of parent that she may become. By providing information and resources, we can encourage her to make choices that will nourish her child. To use an analogy, a doula is like a Sherpa for the family. We know what the mountain terrain holds, and we are willing to make the journey together with the family. We carry their highest goals with us, and will do our best to lighten their load so that their ascent is memorable in the most beautiful of ways. We cannot carry the parents but we can point out choices in the path and help to educate them on what may lie ahead, so that they can make informed decisions about which path to choose, and which way they would like to proceed with their birth plan.
By providing this type of support, we face the adventure together and we are able to cheer the mother on to greater heights. By tapping into her inner wisdom she can find that she already knows how to find answers to her deepest questions. By giving her the tools she needs to climb the mountain of labor and birth, she will be prepared for the larger challenge of parenting a child, because she knows that she has strength and power within herself to pull her through. In this act, she learns that she has the ability to stand up to adversity and persevere. Once a woman finds this source of strength, it can serve her for her whole life and it can inspire her children to know that they are capable of incredible works, as well.
Research such as that found in Mothering the Mother: How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter Easier and Healthier Birth (Klaus, Kennell, and Klaus 1993) having a doula present reduces Cesarean delivery by 50%, the duration of labor by 25%, epidural requests by 60%, oxytocin use by 40%, analgesia use by 30%, and forceps assisted delivery by 40%. The DONA position paper echoes the added benefit of labor support. Most importantly, the mother’s overall satisfaction is significantly more positive when she has the care of a devoted and trained labor support person.
It is the doula’s responsibility to be available, and able to provide resources and care. Doulas provide comfort, whether in the form of pain coping measures, or emotional comfort in a safe place that is free of judgment, where all questions can be asked and examined. A doula offers continuity of care, throughout the labor and birth, she is completely present for the family. In the arena of a hospital birth, having someone in the room that is not part of that environment, but there solely for the parent, to ensure that everything is being done for a positive birth experience, no matter the outcome. In the home environment, it is the doula’s responsibility to familiarize herself with the home so that the birthing parents don’t have to ‘host’ a birth but rather, they are in their safe space for birthing, and have extra hands around to make the birth go as smoothly as possible. In all cases, it is the doula’s responsibility to facilitate communication and to provide reassurance and assistance. If the mother feels confident and positive about her birth, the experience of bonding can be deeper and more lasting with her child.
In supporting the mother, we are supporting the child, and in supporting the child, we are supporting our future. During pregnancy and birth, the mother requires care. Not just physically, but emotionally as well. Offering her encouragement for her hopes and dreams, and a safe environment to examine her fears can have lasting effects on the type of parent that she may become. By providing information and resources, we can encourage her to make choices that will nourish her child. To use an analogy, a doula is like a Sherpa for the family. We know what the mountain terrain holds, and we are willing to make the journey together with the family. We carry their highest goals with us, and will do our best to lighten their load so that their ascent is memorable in the most beautiful of ways. We cannot carry the parents but we can point out choices in the path and help to educate them on what may lie ahead, so that they can make informed decisions about which path to choose, and which way they would like to proceed with their birth plan.
By providing this type of support, we face the adventure together and we are able to cheer the mother on to greater heights. By tapping into her inner wisdom she can find that she already knows how to find answers to her deepest questions. By giving her the tools she needs to climb the mountain of labor and birth, she will be prepared for the larger challenge of parenting a child, because she knows that she has strength and power within herself to pull her through. In this act, she learns that she has the ability to stand up to adversity and persevere. Once a woman finds this source of strength, it can serve her for her whole life and it can inspire her children to know that they are capable of incredible works, as well.
Research such as that found in Mothering the Mother: How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter Easier and Healthier Birth (Klaus, Kennell, and Klaus 1993) having a doula present reduces Cesarean delivery by 50%, the duration of labor by 25%, epidural requests by 60%, oxytocin use by 40%, analgesia use by 30%, and forceps assisted delivery by 40%. The DONA position paper echoes the added benefit of labor support. Most importantly, the mother’s overall satisfaction is significantly more positive when she has the care of a devoted and trained labor support person.
It is the doula’s responsibility to be available, and able to provide resources and care. Doulas provide comfort, whether in the form of pain coping measures, or emotional comfort in a safe place that is free of judgment, where all questions can be asked and examined. A doula offers continuity of care, throughout the labor and birth, she is completely present for the family. In the arena of a hospital birth, having someone in the room that is not part of that environment, but there solely for the parent, to ensure that everything is being done for a positive birth experience, no matter the outcome. In the home environment, it is the doula’s responsibility to familiarize herself with the home so that the birthing parents don’t have to ‘host’ a birth but rather, they are in their safe space for birthing, and have extra hands around to make the birth go as smoothly as possible. In all cases, it is the doula’s responsibility to facilitate communication and to provide reassurance and assistance. If the mother feels confident and positive about her birth, the experience of bonding can be deeper and more lasting with her child.
